Alteriq Pleasant
Alteriq Pleasant, 27, died in 2022 while held at Cook County Jail. His mother, Vickki Willis, said he was her best friend, that she talked to him ten times a day, and that even behind bars he still found someone to call her. He had a medical emergency in a residential treatment unit dorm on July 21, 2022, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died on August 2. The sheriff's office said foul play does not appear to be a factor and that his manner of death was pending, while the Cook County medical examiner's office attributed the death to complications of probable opioid toxicity and ruled it an accident.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled the death an accident, citing complications of probable opioid toxicity.
Reported by: Cook County medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner).
Sources (4)
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Man dies at Cook County Jail - Chicago Sun-Times
- Detainees who died at Cook County Jail in 2023 are remembered in vigil - Chicago Sun-Times
- Advocates, survivors of dead detainees mourn 16 deceased in Cook County Jail